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Other structures

ROME - Aquaduct with equestrian statue (Aqua Marcia)

This is an interesting type in that it demonstrates two Roman monuments as being adjacent each other and yet they were set apart. We have the equestrian statue to Q Marcius Rex that surmounted the castellumthat stood before the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus. He was responsible for extending the Aqua Marcia, important for the water supply for Rome, to the Capitoline and also for its repair. The statue appears to be sat on top of five arches of that structure.

The Arch of Nero was constructed to celebrate Corbulo’s victories against the Parthians and was erectedsometime between 58 and 62 AD. It was located on the Capitoline Hill, between two groves near the temple of Veiovis.

The arch is faced with two Ionic columns. In a side niche there is an unidentified male statue and this may be a colossal statue of Nero himself. The structure is topped by a quadriga flanked by two further statues.

Nero, AE Sestertius, RIC cp 147

ROME - Trajan's column

Trajan's Column is a triumphal column in Rome, Italy, that commemorates Roman emperor Trajan's victory in the Dacian Wars. It was probably constructed under the supervision of the architect Apollodorus of Damascus at the order of the Roman Senate. It is located in Trajan's Forum, built near the Quirinal Hill, north of the Roman Forum. Completed in AD 113, the freestanding column is most famous for its spiral bas relief, which artistically describes the epic wars between the Romans and Dacians.

The structure is about 35 metres in height including its large pedestal.

Coins show a column with a statue of a bird initially, probably an eagle, but after construction, a statue of Trajan was put in place, as on this piece; this statue disappeared in the Middle Ages. On December 4, 1587, the top was crowned by Pope Sixtus V with a bronze figure of St. Peter, which remains to this day.

Trajan, AR Denarius, RIC 292

ROME - Pons Sublicius

Traditionally this structure is identified as Trajan’s bridge over the Danube designed by Apollodorus of Damascus. However the different appearance of the bridge on Trajan’s Column makes this identification doubtful.

The bridge may well be the Pons Sublicius in Rome across the Tiber. It was traditionally the first bridge in Rome to span the Tiber and, being constructed from wood, was frequently swept away. It was always rebuilt in wood as matter of religious practice.

Trajan, AE Sestertius, RIC 569a

ROME - Cippus

Philip I, AR Antoninianus, RIC 24c

Philip I, AE As, RIC 162b

ROME - Crematorium of Antoninus Pius

The Ustrinum, or crematorium, of Antoninus Pius was a building topped, evidently, by a quadriga. It has been described by some authors as a pyre, and that suggests a temporary structure. The remains, discovered near the Piazza Montecitorio, west of the Corso (Regio X), suggest a more robust and permanent structure that was also used for the cremation of Faustina Sr, Pius’ who predeceased him by twenty years.

Antoninus Pius, AE Sestertius, RIC 1266

ROME - Rostral column topped by Sol

A coin type of Octavian, revived by Vespasian and Titus. The original had a statue of Octavian atop a column decorated by the beaks or prows of ships, when revived the statue had been transformed into Sol with an obvious radiate crown. This mayindicate an actual schange in the statue or be artistic license on behalf of the die engraver to show a venerated former emperor.

Vespasian, AR Denarius, RIC 120

ROME - Rostrum

The rostra were the platforms, located in the Forum in Regio VIII near the Comitio, where the populace were addressed. The two coins below demonstrate such scenes with the imperial presence sat atop the structure, in the case of the second coin in an act of distributing a donativa.

In Roman mythology, Cloacina was the goddess who presided over the Cloaca Maxima the main sewer drain in Rome. The Cloaca Maxima is traditionally said to have been started by one of Rome's Etruscan kings, Tarquinius Priscus. Despite her Etruscan origins, she later became identified with Venus. Titus Tatius, who reigned with Romulus, erected a statue to Cloacina as the spirit of the "Great Drain".

The Romans believed that a good sewage system was important for the success of Rome, as a good sewer system was necessary for the physical health of Roman citizens. At Rome’s peak, it is estimated that the sewer conveyed 100,000 pounds of human excrement daily. While most homes were not directly connected to the sewer, waste thrown in the street was washed into the drain.

Cloacina was worshipped as an aspect of Venus at the small Shrine of Venus Cloacina, located in front of the Basilica Aemilia in the Roman Forum and directly above the Cloaca Maxima. The depiction on the reverse of this coin is of that shrine.

The Cloaca Maxima outlet today

AMASIA in PONTUS - Sacred shrine

Severus Alexander, AE 38mm, Rec Gen 107

ALEXANDRIA in EGYPT - The Pharos

The Lighthouse of Alexandria, sometimes called the Pharos of Alexandria, was a tower built by the Ptolemaic Kingdom between 280 and 247 BC and was between 393 and 450 ft tall. It was one of the tallest man-made structures on Earth for many centuries, and was regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Badly damaged by three earthquakes between 956 and 1323, it then became an abandoned ruin.

Constructed from large blocks of light-coloured stone, the tower was made up of three stages: a lower square section with a central core, a middle octagonal section, and, at the top, a circular section. At its apex was positioned a mirror which reflected sunlight during the day; a fire was lit at night. A statue of Poseidon or Zeus stood atop the lighthouse. The Pharos' masonry blocks were interlocked, sealed together using molten lead, to withstand the pounding of the waves.

The Pharos can be seen as a rectangular structure to the right of a figure of Isis holding a billowing sail on this year 12 drachm of Antoninus Pius from Alexandria in Egypt.

Antoninus Pius AE drachm, Dattari 2677-8

The Pharos sketched by the archaeologist Prof. H. Thiersch, 1909

ANTIOCHIA AD MAEANDRUM in CARIA - Bridge over the Maeander

The multi arched and decorated bridge over the River Maeander at Antioch in Caria features on a medallic bronze of Gallienus from the city. The reverse scene may be described as a bridge spanning the Maeandrus river; gateway to bridge to left,
surmounted by stork standing right; on parapet, river-god Maeandrus
reclining left, holding reed and cornucopia.

A fountain head, presumably a notable feature or perhaps restored by Severus, located in Serdica, perhaps a public drinking water source. Spouts are shown on three faces of the structure with water pouring forth.

An interesting theory has just been put forwards about the object that Venus is holding on this coin type (Woods, 2013). Traditionally it is described as Cupid, however there are no features associated with it. He, however, postulates that the object represents an object from the temple of Aphrodite Aphacitis in the territory of the Palmyrenes. He cites a passage from Zosimus:

“At Aphaca......there is a temple to Aphrodite Aphacitis.......a fire like lamp or sphere burns in the air”

Given that Aphrodite is the equivalent of Venus and the Aurelianic war against the Palmyrenes this interpretation does appear attractive.